Great black-backed gull

Larus marinus

Size: 64–79 cm · 1–2.3 kg
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Diurnal
Sociality: Colony
Lifespan: 15–25 years

The great black-backed gull is one of the largest gulls of the North Atlantic region. With a black mantle and heavy bill, it is a powerful coastal predator.

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Key facts

Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) is a carnivore animal classified as Bird · Charadriiformes · Laridae.
Primary habitats are coast · open ocean · urban, with a range across Nearctic · Palearctic · Atlantic Ocean · Arctic Ocean.
Activity is diurnal, sociality is colony, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
The great black-backed gull is one of the largest gulls of the North Atlantic region.
It uses coasts, islands, estuaries, harbors, and waters of the North Atlantic, Arctic, Palearctic, and Nearctic regions.
Typical lifespan: 15–25 years

Sources

wikidata.org

Range

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It uses coasts, islands, estuaries, harbors, and waters of the North Atlantic, Arctic, Palearctic, and Nearctic regions. Breeding colonies occur on rocky islands, sandbars, and cliffs.

Appearance

Length is 64-79 cm and weight 1-2.3 kg. Adults have a white head and underparts, black back and wings, a large yellow bill, and pale pink legs.

Behavior

Diurnal and colonial at breeding sites, it may forage alone or with other gulls. Its size lets it dominate feeding areas and displace other seabirds.

Feeding

A carnivore, it eats fish, crustaceans, eggs and chicks of seabirds, carrion, and scraps around fishing ports. It shifts readily between hunting and scavenging.

Reproduction

Nests are built on the ground from seaweed, grass, and debris. Both adults guard eggs and chicks and strongly defend the area around the nest.

Notes

It is listed as Least Concern. In coastal ecosystems it acts as a top opportunistic predator and responds quickly to human fishery waste.